Adunauriel
August 27th,2007, 06:39 PM
Ok, this is a very good description of the play (I didn't write it). It's actually of the 1975 film version, but the film very closely follows the play. I sadly haven't seen the play, nor will I get a chance to before the run ends, it's showing at the Duke of York Theatre until September 16th.
Cast
Orlando Bloom - Stephen
Gareth Farr - Colin
Paul Hilton - Andrew
Linda Baron - Mom
Tim Healy - Dad
The story itself is about a family of disheartened, discouraged, disappointed and alienated people. The parents exhibit endless false cheer, clinging to illusions and appearances, with only moments of real clarity or compassion. The plot, which unfolds in the long and complex exchanges among them, demonstrates the gulf between social classes and the family’s painful awareness of it – and the chasms (and resentments) between themselves. They seem to have little ability to connect with each other on a meaningful level although they do exhibit some affection for each other. The sons have escaped their blue-collar, working class roots – encouraged, even shoved into further education by their father, a coal miner for 49 years – and are all professionals, living and working elsewhere. Except for the prissy second son, Colin, they have lost their way and are struggling to find new direction. Andrew is a solicitor-turned-wannabe-artist, married with 2 kids, who’s just bursting with emotions fueled by old wounds and a seeming need for some kind of revenge. Colin is a self-righteous prig, social climber, judgmental, scornful, disdainful – it’s suggested he might be gay as he hasn’t married or had girlfriends. Steven has a wife and 4 kids – he’s a teacher, I think – who has abandoned the book he’s been writing for years and is having troubling nightmares (besides being a masterful sad-sack).
The mother is a real case … uptight, controlled, (perhaps controlling in a manipulative way?), a cleanliness-freak … whose greatest achievement seems to have been excelling in her classes in human hygiene and domestic science back in school, decades ago. She seems to be generally oblivious, focused on superficialities, but her impact on her family of men has been profound and they are all still reacting to events from the distant past.
There are shared reminiscences over the pain of poverty, existential angst over the missing brother who died as a child, dark secrets revealed, dramas both suggested and real, lots of analysis of each others’ characters, several in-your-face confrontations.
It’s not a sweet or gentle reunion … it’s painful and sad. Sometimes I found it was hitting close to home with the family dynamic. It requires close attention, for the tale is all told in the dialog and you shouldn’t miss any. It’s a heavy dramatic piece, with few smiles.
So … it’s a far cry from Orlando’s hero characters, yes. An important role, but not a demanding one.
Cast
Orlando Bloom - Stephen
Gareth Farr - Colin
Paul Hilton - Andrew
Linda Baron - Mom
Tim Healy - Dad
The story itself is about a family of disheartened, discouraged, disappointed and alienated people. The parents exhibit endless false cheer, clinging to illusions and appearances, with only moments of real clarity or compassion. The plot, which unfolds in the long and complex exchanges among them, demonstrates the gulf between social classes and the family’s painful awareness of it – and the chasms (and resentments) between themselves. They seem to have little ability to connect with each other on a meaningful level although they do exhibit some affection for each other. The sons have escaped their blue-collar, working class roots – encouraged, even shoved into further education by their father, a coal miner for 49 years – and are all professionals, living and working elsewhere. Except for the prissy second son, Colin, they have lost their way and are struggling to find new direction. Andrew is a solicitor-turned-wannabe-artist, married with 2 kids, who’s just bursting with emotions fueled by old wounds and a seeming need for some kind of revenge. Colin is a self-righteous prig, social climber, judgmental, scornful, disdainful – it’s suggested he might be gay as he hasn’t married or had girlfriends. Steven has a wife and 4 kids – he’s a teacher, I think – who has abandoned the book he’s been writing for years and is having troubling nightmares (besides being a masterful sad-sack).
The mother is a real case … uptight, controlled, (perhaps controlling in a manipulative way?), a cleanliness-freak … whose greatest achievement seems to have been excelling in her classes in human hygiene and domestic science back in school, decades ago. She seems to be generally oblivious, focused on superficialities, but her impact on her family of men has been profound and they are all still reacting to events from the distant past.
There are shared reminiscences over the pain of poverty, existential angst over the missing brother who died as a child, dark secrets revealed, dramas both suggested and real, lots of analysis of each others’ characters, several in-your-face confrontations.
It’s not a sweet or gentle reunion … it’s painful and sad. Sometimes I found it was hitting close to home with the family dynamic. It requires close attention, for the tale is all told in the dialog and you shouldn’t miss any. It’s a heavy dramatic piece, with few smiles.
So … it’s a far cry from Orlando’s hero characters, yes. An important role, but not a demanding one.